Dispensing gun



DISPENSING GUN Filed Oct. 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS DAMON c. ISGRIGGS FRITZ M. LOTHMAN DONALD H ELLERBROCK BY JMM 41 7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,193,146 Patented July 6, 1965 3,193,146 DISPENSING GUN Damon C. Isgriggs, St. Louis, Fritz M. Lothman, Watson Woods, and Donald H. Ellerbrock, Florissant, Mo., as-

signors to RC. Can Company, Overland, Mo, a corporation of Missouri Filed Oct. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 229,131 2 Claims. (Cl. 222-82) This invention relates to dispensing guns and more particularly to a gun of a kind capable of puncturing a can and completely emptying the can of grease, oil, or other contents which might be termed pourable, but under usual conditions is highly. viscous. A dispensing gun, when used in the manner herein described, expedites the discharge of can contents of this kind.

There are many kinds of products on the market merchandised in quart cans, or smaller, which have the pouring characteristics of cold molasses. Such products, as motor oil additives, are illustrative. Not only fleet operators, but also motorists, are prospective customers for such a product. Neither will be attracted to repeat order such a product, if after puncturing a small can, it then requires a wait of five or ten minutes for the contents to drain. On the other hand, no filling station operator will find the sale to motorists profitable if he is required to waste time in holding a can while the contents drain out. It will obviously occur to him sooner, or later, that his Wasted time cancels out the profit on the sale. To make such a product attractive saleswise, these disadvantages must be overcome. A suitable gun (see the prior application of Myers et al., Serial No. 171,385, filed February 6, 1962, now Patent No. 3,130,842) offers a solution, provided, of course, it is cheap, clean, easily operated, desirable and quick.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a dispensing gun for sealed cans which offers all of the characteristics above set forth.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dispensing gun which includes as a feature a means to puncture a sealed can without spilling any of the contents.

It is another object of this invention to provide a dispensing gun which will completely force out the can contents.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a dispensing gun which releases the can after the dispensing operation is complete.

According to this invention, the gun includes a body with an opening through which a full can may be inserted, and the same can, when empty, may be removed. The body is formed to support and hold a can. At one end of the gun body is an ejector mechanism which, when actuated, places the contents of the can under pressure. This may be mechanical, or pneumatic, such as disclosed in the prior patent application of Myers et al. An another end of the gun body is a can tape equipped to penetrate the sheet material of the can, preferably the metal can end closure. While the can is held in the gun body, the tap is operated and then the ejector. When the can is emptied, both ejector and tap are released from engagement with the can and the gun body rotated to dispose of the empty.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following detailed description which is in such clear, concise and exact terms as will enable any one skilled in the art to make and use the same when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a gun constructed in accordance with this invention showing a sealed can loaded in the gun and parts of both gun and can broken away and in section to illustrate a position of the parts before the can is punctured;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view illustrating the top of a can after it is punctured;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating operation of the gun after the can is punctured; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating'the operation of the gun at the end of discharge.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a dispensing gun, generally indicated as 10, which has a can holding portion 11. On opposite ends of the can holding portion 11 are front plate 13 and back plate 15. The back plate 15 carries what is termed an ejector mechanism. This may take anyone of several known forms, such as heretofore mentioned. One example of such a mechanism is shown in FIG. 1. The back plate 15 has formed on its rear side a hand grip 17 which is hollow and made of sheet metal, such as is used for the construcion throughout the gun. There is a slot 18 in the grip through which a trigger 20 projects. Pivot 22 carries the trigger 2t Pivoted on the opposite end of the trigger 20 is a detent 24 which is urged in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, by a spring 26 anchored at one end to the detent 24 and at its other end to the trigger at the point 27. Also mounted within the hollow grip 17 is a detent 28 pivoted on a stationary pin 29 and held biased in an anti-clockwise direction by a hair-pin type spring 30 having its ends secured to the detent and within the grip respectively. Detents 24 and 28 are biased in a direction to engage the teeth 32 on a toothed rod 34 which projects through aligned openings, such as 36 and 38, in the grip and in the backing plate respectively. On the end of the toothed rod 34 is a handle 35. The opposite end of the toothed rod 34 has a head 40 held within a socket 42 of a plunger 44 (see FIG. 4).

The structure described so far is believed to be a conventional one which operates in a well known manner. When toothed rod has handle 35 positioned, as shown, then actuation of the trigger 20 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, will advance the toothed rod and the plunger 44. The length of the rod is sufficient to drive the plunger as far as front plate 13-. To retract the plunger, handle 35 is rotated to release the teeth 32 from detents 24 and 28. The rod 34 is then retracted by a pull on the handle 35.

Front plate 13 has a central aperture into whichis welded, or otherwise secured, a tubular guide 46. This tubular guide is counterbored at 48 to a diameter suitable for receiving the piercing point 50' of the tap 52. The counterbore 48 has a shoulder 49 which in turn will cooperate with the shoulder 51 on the piercing point 50 to limit outward movement of the tap 52. Inward movement of the tap is likewise limited by a spring ring, or the like, 54 surrounding the outer stem portion of the tap 52. Surrounding the end of the tap 50 is a cylindrical shaped cushion type seal 55. This seal can be made of any resilient rubber-like material, or it may be of a felt, or the like, material. The thickness of the cushion type seal 56 is such as to space the end closure wall 55 of the can 57 from contact with the front plate 13. The cushion type seal also has sufiicient resistance to compression so that the tap 50 may be fully withdrawn even though the cushion type seal is under heavy pressure from the end closure 55 of the can 57.

Secured to the gun body 11 by a chain 60 is a plug 61 which has a flat outer portion and a stopper-like portion which penetrates within the stem portion 52 of the tap 50.

The opposite end of can 57 is, in this particular case, shown to be closed by a frangible end closure 65. This end closure has a flexible dome-like piston portion 67 and a circumferential head 69 which grips the side wall of plunger,

' '0 the can 57. The bead 69 is weakened at a portion so that the piston part-67 may be broken away from the head by the action of the plunger 44.

- Operation For the purpose of illustration, let it be assumed that V the can 57 isfilled with a highly viscous fluid','or liquid;

The operator retracts the handle fully so that the full can 57 may be dropped through the open side of the gun position, the 'face of the plug 61 is struck a blow with the hand or is forced against some stationary object by a' scribed may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

' 1. In a dispensing gun for use with a can constructed with at least one end movable through the can body to discharge the can contents, said gun'having, (a) a body with an opening through which a can may be inserted and withdrawn, (b) a front plate on one end of said body at which one end of a can is positioned, and, (c) an ejector means atthe opposite end of said body adapted when actu- ,ated to engage the opposite can end and impose a force on the can, in the direction of said front plate and to force exertedon the grip 17. Plug 61 not only provides a means through which a force may be applied to the tap 52 but also provides a means which prevents spillage once the tap pierces the end of the can 55. The effect of this force applied to the piercing pointis'illustrated in FIGS;

'2, 3 and 4. The amount of force exerted on thetap determines the degree in which the piercing point penetrates the end closure of the can. It is not necessary that the tap head fully penetrates'in order to fulfill the objects of this invention. It is suflicient if the head of the 7 tap penetrates about as far as shownin FIG. 4. This degree of penetration will produce an opening in the can end 55 of the form shownj at7t) in'FIG. 2. I As shown in' FIG. 3, the edges of the metal will be rolled back around the arcuate opening 70, as illustrated at 72. These edges 7 72 will firmly grip the sides of the tap and hold it securely within theend closure 55. The tap 56 will, therefore, have a tendency to be retained withinthe end closure 55 gripped securely by the arcuate edge 72. On entry of the tap, the metal is displacedinthe form of a curled up tongue 74., Although the actionof the tap has been gone, into in' considerable detail, it is necessary for. an understanding of how the tap is held in place after'punc turing the end closure 55 of the can.

Subsequent to this piercing operation, plug 61 is re-. moved from'the'stem portion 52 ,ofthe .tap. Y Thereafter trigger 20 is operated breaking away the piston portion 67 from the head 69 on end closure 65. This piston portion 67 under the force provided by the plunger 44' effectively forces the contents of the can'57 through the stem portion of the tap. Any leakage isprevented by the cushion type seal 56 which, not only can-have close contact with the peripheryof the head of the tap 50, but is also under pressure from the plunger 44 acting against the can con; e tents. Thetrigger 20. provides means for controlling the 7 rate of delivery from the can. If rapid delivery is desired, trigger 20 is actuated accordingly. As the piston 67 reaches the bottom of the can, it 'is forced into close contact with the inside surface of end closure 55. The force of the plunge ryand the piston 67 not only rolls back the tongue 74 upon itself, but also drives out the last of the contents of the can and then the tap 50. As the piston 67 is squeezed against the can end 55, it has progressive contact therewith'inwardly from the edges so that all of the contents is forced inwardly toward the tap and thereby finds its way from the can. FIG. 5 illustrates the action of the piston 67 as it .finally forces the tap'from the can end.

Ejection of the can 57 fromthe gun 10 is accomplished by rotating the handle 35 180 f and withdrawing the This movement: of the plunger 44 retracts the,

can 57 from the front plate 13 intocontact with the back plate 15 which in turn is so"constructed 'as to vstripthe can 57 from the plunger 44. Subsequent rotationof the gun will permit the can 57 to fall outof the gun.

Changes in and modifications of the constructiondee can end 'into communication with the contents in a can at a location in the path' of movement of the movable can end and an outwardlyprojecting spout at its opposite end, i a (2) a ring-like resilient seal surrounding the hollow piercing point at one end of said hollow tapQand "(3) a yieldable mounting for said hollow tap permitting movement of, said tap to puncture a can end. and said piercing point toward [said can end by pressing said spout/and, away from alcan end after it has been pierced in response to pressure from the movable end. 2.,In a dispensing gun for .use with a can constructed with at least one end movable through the can body to discharge the can contents, said gun having, a body with an opening through which a can maybe inserted and withdrawn, a front plate on one end of said body at which oneend of a can is positioned, and an ejector means at the opposite end of said body adapted when actuated to engage the opposite ,can'end and impose a force on the can end in a direction of said front plate and to impose pressure on said movable can end and to force the can end through'the can and expel the can contents, the improvement comprising, ,=(a) a hollow tap on said front plate having a hollow 1 piercing point at one end .adapted to puncture ,a can end into communicationwith the contents in the can at a location in the path of movement of said mov- I able-can end, an outwardly projecting spout at the opposite'end of said hollowtap, and a tubular support fixed in said front plateslidably supporting said hollow tap and projecting toward the can end,

a (b) a ring-like resilient seal tightly fitting the projecting end of said tubularsupport and bearing against said front plate, and 1 (c) a yieldable'mou'nting for said hollow tap in said tubularsupport permittingmovement of said tap toward said can end and movement of said piercing point throughsaid can end by inward pressure of 2 said spout and opposite movement of said hollow tap in response to pressure from the movable end.

References Cited byithe Examiner 'KUNITEDSTATESY PATENTS g r 1,933,192 10/33 'Taylor 222' ss 2,112,470 3/38 Sevelle 222-835 2,115,591 -4/38' *Sherbondy 222-327 2,139,097 12/38 Piquerez .222 s3 X 2,732,017 "1/56 Fleming 222-453 X 1 2,833,450 s/ss Sherbondy 222 327 2,941,699 6/60 Schmidt et a1. 222427 RAPHAEL Mfrur'q'ri'imar Examiner. LOUIS J. DEMBO. Examiner. 

1. IN A DISPENSING GUN FOR USE WITH A CAN CONSTRUCTED WITH AT LEAST ONE END MOVABLE THROUGH THE CAN BODY TO DISCHARGE THE CAN CONTENTS, SAID GUN HAVING, (A) A BODY WITH AN OPENING THROUGH WHICH A CAN MAY BE INSERTED AND WITHDRAWN, (B) A FRONT PLATE ON ONE END OF SAID BODY AT WHICH ONE END OF A CAN IS POSITIONED, AND (C) AN EJECTOR MEANS AT THE OPPOSITE END OF SAID BODY ADAPTED WHEN ACTUATED TO ENGAGE THE OPPOSITE CAN END AND IMPOSE A FORCE ON THE CAN IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID FRONT PLATE AND TO IMPOSE PRESSURE ON SAID MOVABLE CANEND TO FORCE THE CAN END THROUGH THE CAN AND EXPEL THE CAN CONTENTS, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, (1) A HOLLOW TAP ON SAID FRONT PLATE HAVING A HOLLOW PIERCING POINT AT ONE END ADAPTED TO PUNCTURE A CAN END INTO COMMUNICATION WITH THE CONTENTS IN A CAN AT A LOCATION IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE MOVABLE CAN END AND AN OUTWARDLY PROJECTING SPOUT AT ITS OPPOSITE END, (2) A RING-LIKE RESILIENT SEAL SURROUNDING THE HOLLOW PIERCING POINT AT ONE END OF SAID HOLLOW TAP, AND (3) A YIELDABLE MOUNTING FOR SAID HOLLOW TAP PERMITTING MOVEMENT OF SAID TAP TO PUNCTURE A CAN END AND SAID PIERCING POINT TOWARD SAID CAN END BY PRESSING SAID SPOUT AND, AWAY FROM A CAN END AFTER IT HAS BEEN PIERCED IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE FROM THE MOVABLE END. 